Australian Cashback Apps Compared

Few things feel as satisfying as discovering you've paid less than everyone else. It's the same thrill that comes from finding a forgotten $20 note in an old jacket pocket. Cashback apps tap directly into that feeling, dangling the prospect of earning money back on purchases you're making anyway.

The promise sounds almost too good to be true. Shop through an app or website, buy something you were already planning to purchase, and get a slice of the money back. 

But not all cashback platforms are created equal. Some offer higher rates, others have faster payouts, and a few come with catches that can turn a bargain into a disappointment.

1. Also worth keeping in mind:

A cashback might not always be the best deal. Retailers track referrals from cashback platforms, and so might not offer those referrals the same discounts as someone visiting their site directly. 

For example, a cashback platform might offer 5% cashback on new bookings with a hotel chain, but that hotel chain might be exclusively offering a 10% discount to new customers visiting their website directly (i.e. not via a cashback platform). 

So before jumping on a cashback offer, be sure to compare the deal with what's on offer to direct customers.     

Here's how Australia's major cashback apps stack up. 

ShopBack

ShopBack is one of Australia’s largest and most established cashback platforms with over 20,000 retail partners. The platform has partnerships with major brands like Amazon, Coles, Woolworths and more.

In addition to traditional online shopping cashback, ShopBack offers cashback on gift cards, in-store purchases through selected promotions, and boosted cashback campaigns that can temporarily increase reward rates.

ShopBack’s biggest strengths are its extensive retailer network and the wide range of ways to earn rewards. However, cashback usually remains pending until a retailer’s return or cancellation period has passed. This could mean weeks or months of wait before funds become available.

• Pricing: Free
• Reward destination: Bank account 
• Best for: Regular online shoppers looking for a large retailer network and frequent bonus cashback promotions.
• Available on: iOS, Android, web browsers

TopCashback

TopCashback is one of the newer entrants to Australia's cashback market, but it arrives with significant international pedigree, having built a large user base in the UK and US.

The platform operates much like traditional cashback sites, allowing users to click through to participating retailers and earn cashback on eligible purchases.



What sets TopCashback apart is its claim that it passes on 100% of the affiliate commission it receives from retailers to members, generating revenue through advertising and promotional placements rather than retaining a portion of cashback earnings.

That model can sometimes translate into higher cashback rates than competing platforms, although rates vary by retailer and promotion. 

As with other cashback services, rewards may remain pending for weeks or months while retailers verify transactions and ensure items have not been returned or cancelled.

• Pricing: Free
• Reward destination: Bank account or other withdrawal options depending on account settings
• Best for: Savvy shoppers who compare cashback rates across multiple platforms to maximise rewards.
• Available on: iOS, Android, web browsers

Eniola Ogunbanwo

International Growth Director, TopCashback

TopCashback is one of the world’s largest cashback platforms, with over 25 million members globally. As Australians continue to look for smarter ways to save on their everyday spending, cashback is an easy way to make their money go further.

TopCashback also offers a Highest Cashback Guarantee – if members find a higher cashback rate elsewhere, they’ll beat it by 1%.

Kick Cashback

Kick Cashback promises a faster path to rewards than many of its established rivals. The platform says most eligible retail cashback can be claimed within minutes of a purchase being tracked, compared with the weeks or months that are often the standard across the cashback industry.

Users can shop through Kick’s network of 1,000+ partner retailers and earn cashback on eligible purchases, with rewards paid directly to a nominated bank account.

The platform also includes retailer comparisons, browser tools, and deal alerts aimed at helping shoppers identify the best cashback opportunities before making a purchase.

• Pricing: Free
• Reward destination: Bank account
• Best for: Shoppers who value fast cashback payouts and no minimum withdrawal threshold.
• Available on: Android app, web browsers
  

Zahava Robinson

Director & Chief Technology Officer, Kick Cashback

Cashback should feel like a genuine saving, rather than something customers have to wait months to access.

At Kick Cashback, we’ve focused on making the experience faster and simpler, with cashback from most eligible retail purchases becoming available to claim within minutes, no minimum withdrawal amount, and access to more than 1,000 stores

Grow My Money

Grow My Money isn’t your traditional cashback app, such that rewards can be directed towards their superannuation or their mortgage. Formerly known as Super-Rewards, the platform partners with over 1,000 retailers where shoppers can earn cashback on eligible online and in-store purchases.

Users have the freedom to nominate where the cashback goes, with funds automatically paid into a linked mortgage, offset account, savings account or super fund.

The platform focuses on long-term wealth building rather than short-term spending. It’s free to join and rates vary by retailer with some advertising rates of up to 15%. The downside is that users forgo the flexibility of receiving cashback as spendable cash.

• Pricing: Free
• Reward destination: Mortgage, offset account, savings account, or superannuation
• Best for: Mortgage holders and savers who want cashback to work towards a specific financial goal.
• Available on: iOS, Android, web browsers

Boost Your Super

Boost Your Super is similar to Grow My Money. Its key selling point is that rewards are paid into your superannuation rather than as cash.

The platform partners with 750+ retailers across categories including travel, fashion and everyday shopping, allowing users to earn contributions to their retirement savings when they make eligible purchases.

Apart from cashback, Boost Your Super also helps you increase your contributions to your super by rounding up spare change from your purchases. While its cashback service is free to use, the Round Ups to Super feature carries a subscription fee of $4.40 per month.

The key appeal is the potential for long-term growth through compounding returns, which could make relatively small shopping rewards more valuable over time. The trade-off is, of course, reduced flexibility, as users can’t access the rewards immediately.

• Pricing: Free for cashback; Round Ups feature costs $4.40/month 
• Reward destination: Superannuation fund or SMSF
• Best for: Shoppers looking to grow their retirement savings through everyday spending
• Available on: Web browsers

How do cashback apps work?

Cashback apps act as a middleman between shoppers and retailers. When a customer clicks through a cashback app to make a purchase, the retailer pays the platform a commission for referring the sale. 

Instead of keeping the entire commission, the cashback app shares a portion of it with the shopper, who receives the money back as cashback after the purchase has been tracked and approved.

The process is usually simple: sign up to a cashback platform, search for a participating retailer, click through via the app or website, and complete your purchase as normal. Once the transaction is confirmed, the cashback is recorded in your account and becomes payable after the retailer verifies the sale and confirms it hasn't been returned or cancelled.

What are the benefits of cashback apps?

• Earn money back on everyday spending: Receive a percentage of eligible purchases back as cash, reducing the cost of items you were already planning to buy.
• Stack savings with other discounts: Cashback can often be combined with sales, promo codes and credit card rewards, helping shoppers maximise the value of each purchase.
• Access real cash rewards: Unlike many loyalty programs, cashback is typically paid as actual money that can be withdrawn or transferred to a bank account.
• Wide range of participating retailers: Major cashback platforms partner with hundreds to thousands of brands across categories.
• Free to join: Most cashback apps don’t charge membership fees, allowing users to earn rewards without any upfront cost.